Thursday, February 28, 2013

The Nursery



We have the nursery completed.

Really done.

I honestly have a hard time believing it. Everything that I had in my mind's eye to do in this room... we did. I have never been able to say that about any room in any of our homes ever before... not even a nursery. I'm sure it will continue to change as Baby grows, but - as "done" as a room can get - it's done.

And I am immensely thankful.

That last sentence in itself makes me want to cry. I know I just said I wasn't much of a sentimental blogger, but you get me going on babies... and I'm done for. I am so thankful that we were able to make this room. To give our baby girl a bright, cheerful, clean place to rest and play. (Remember the "before"?) But, also, because the room is for me, too. I've mentioned before that it's very likely Baby will be our last little one, and I am so glad to have this one finished nursery. This one little room that expresses so much of what my mama heart feels about the privelege to nurture and cherish a little soul entrusted to us.

Physically speaking, the room was inspired by the scrap quilt created by my grandma and great-grandma many decades ago now. And also the pink & blue vintage piggy bank that is exactly like the one my sister and I had in our yellow bedroom as little girls. But, emotionally speaking, it is inspired by motherhood... by family... the joy and wonder of having a baby in the house. This baby. Our baby.

I wanted this room to celebrate her. And all the love that surrounds her. And to be a room meant for enjoying her.

Have you ever read the poem, Song for a Fifth Child? That link gives a little of the author's background, and I'm struck by how similar the ages of her children were to our own. I started out in my motherhood as such a "doer". A listmaker. But time and perspective have a way of mellowing us. I'm sure sometimes I take my gypsy ways a bit too far now, but I still so much appreciate the overall reminder the poem gives. It's really the perfect sentiment for Baby's nursery photos.

For our fifth child...








Mother, oh mother, come shake out your cloth!
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing and butter the bread,
Sew on a button and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking!









Oh, I've grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby, loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).











The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew
And out in the yard there's a hullabaloo
But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren't her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo.)












Oh, cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
But children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow
.





So quiet down, cobwebs.




Dust, go to sleep.




I'm rocking my baby.




Babies don't keep.




12 comments:

Deb said...

Oh it's such a sweet room! What a sweet little baby too. I remember some of those story books!

Erin C. Young said...

Where did you get the quilt on the chair? So pretty!
Erincyoung (at) yahoo.com

Jacci said...

Thank you, ladies :)

Erin, the quilt was made by my grandmother & great grandmother... Probably in the 30s or 40s.

If you mean the little blue floral blankie, I made it with some scrap chenille and a Tanya Whelan fabric :)



Unknown said...

Beautiful! I am so glad I did not blog when I did the boys nursery. I did next to no decorating!!!

nanato8 said...

Honey, the nursery is so beautiful!
And obviously baby loves it since she is jumping for joy in the one picture! I love the cross stitchings on the walls also. Possibly, from 2 grandmas? Love and kisses mom

Jessica White said...

I love it...the room is beautiful!

We have the Wilkins collection too...love that book.

Jessica White said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Rita said...

Oh my gosh--I don't think I'm very emotional/gushy, but I ended this with tears in my eyes. Sometimes I just miss, in a deep, still way, the babies my children used to be. Something in your photos took me there.

Your nursery is wonderful--full of real things. It's a for-living nursery, not a for-showing one. It's obviously for your sweet girl first, and you, too--but for her first. I would love to rock a baby in this space.

Jacci said...

Mom, your cross stitch is so perfect in here ;) I started to list who made what and all the credits started to take over the post! Maybe soon I'll do another post explaining the family significance of so many things in her room.

Love you!!!

Jacci said...

Yeesh - sorry Jess! I just removed & duplicate comment and it looks all sketchy now. Like I had to censor a scandalous comment. Ha.

Jacci said...

Rita... you made ME cry!

That's it exactly. You get it.

;)

Angel said...

Wow. So gorgeous and inviting. You have an amazing style...from all the vintage, to the handmade , to the color choices...ahhh, love it all. Her polka dot dress is adorable too.

Song For A Fifth Child, tears at the end. So sweet. I have two kids and my youngest is 5.
Babies don't keep.

Have you read Love You Forever? It's a kids book that had me in tears the first time I read it...
"I'll love you forever
I'll like you for always
As long as I'm living
My baby you'll be."